XXVI. MR. TERRAPIN SHOWS HIS STRENGTH

"BRER TARRYPIN wuz de out'nes' man," said Uncle Remus,
rubbing his hands together contemplatively, and chuckling to
himself in a very signfficant manner; 'he wuz de out'nes' man er de
whole gang. He wuz dat."

The little boy sat perfectly quiet, betraying no impatience when
Uncle Remus paused to hunt, first in one pocket and then in
another, for enough crumbs of tobacco to replenish his pipe.
Presently the old man proceeded:

"Well, den, w'iles dey wuz all a settin' dar en de lasses wuz a bilin'
en a blubberin', dey got ter runnin' on talkin' mighty biggity. Brer
Rabbit, he say he de swiffes'; but Brer Tarrypin, he rock long in de
cheer en watch de lasses. Brer Fox, he say he de sharpes', but Brer
Tarrypin he rock long. Brer Wolf, he say he de mos' suwigus, but
Brer Tarrypin, he rock en he rock long. Brer B'ar, he say he de
mos' stronges', but Brer Tarrypin he rock, en he keep on rockin'.
Bimeby he sorter shet one eye, en say, sezee:

"Atter w'ile Miss Meadows, she up en say, she did, dat she'd take'n
loan de young men her bed-cord, en w'iles de candy wuz a coolin'
in de plates, dey could all go ter de branch en see Brer Tarrypin
kyar out his projick. Brer Tarrypin," continued Uncle Remus, in a
tone at once confidential and argumentative, "wern't much bigger'n
de pa'm er my han', en it look mighty funny fer ter year 'im braggin'
'bout how he kin out-pull Brer B'ar. But dey got de bed-cord atter
w'ile, en den dey all put out ter de branch. W'en Brer Tarrypin fine
de place he wanter, he tuck one een er de bed-cord, en gun de
yather een' to Brer B'ar.